Some wrestling tournaments get the one word treatment because of their importance, and the Cadet & Junior national championships in Fargo is one of those events.

Watch Fargo 2019 Live on Flo

July 13-19 | 9AM Central

Willie had you covered on the Cadet (now 16U) preview, so now you can prepare yourself for the 15 Junior weights. Remember that wrestling for the Juniors starts on Sunday and concludes with Tuesday's finals.

Entries below are based on preliminary lists provided to us, as well as by the rosters being released by USA Wrestling. Brackets will be on FloArena once they are completed.

There are six guys currently ranked #1 competing in Fargo. Let's take a look at the contenders in every bracket, and make top four predictions for all the weights.

100 Pounds

Brandon O’Brien, IA - Northern Plains champ

Ty Daugherty, OH - Central Regional champ

Cael Keck, MO - Western Regional champ

Commentary: For six straight years, this weight featured a steady decline in wrestlers. Four of the seven regionals did not feature a Junior 100lb bracket, and all of the athletes with two or fewer losses at Junior Duals are still Cadet eligible.

It’s Brandon O’Brien’s weight to lose. He’s the only guy in the weight who has been an All-American, placing at Cadet 88 each of the past two years. He also won a Pan Am Schoolboy title in 2015 and should provide Iowa with a crucial eight points in the team race.

First year Cadet Cael Keck is going Juniors for Team Missouri. Central Regional champ Ty Daugherty could be a massive boon to Ohio's title hopes.

An interesting note: the last time there was not a tech or pin in the finals was 2012, when the three period era was still in effect. That was the first year this weight existed, as the opening classes changed from 98-105 to 100-106.

Blast from the Past: In 2016, a future Ohio State Buckeye won this weight. Malik Heinselman of Colorado, who has made three age level world teams, teched his teammate Brendon Garcia in the finals. WATCH MATCH HERE

Nomad's Picks

1) O'Brien, IA  2) Daugherty, OH  3) Keck, MO  4) Burright, IL

106 Pounds

#6 Blake West, MN - Akron 3rd

#7 Kelly Dunnigan, NJ - FloNats finalist

#9 Eli Griffin, OK - Junior 100 3rd

Jonathan Gurule, CO - NW Regional champ

Alex Randell, IL - FloNats 6th

Kane Kettering, PA - FloNats 8th

Caleb Coyle, NE

Commentary: Three of the Top-10 wrestlers in the country will be battling for the stop sign. The only returning placer is Eli Griffin of Oklahoma, who was third last year at 100 for team Oklahoma. A two-time state champ for Cascia Hall, Griffin was injured in the semis at Akron and defaulted to sixth, also missing out on Junior Duals.

Blake West has wins over both the other ranked wrestlers in this bracket, having beaten Griffin in the semis of Folkstyle Nationals and Dunnigan in the third place match in Akron. Although West did not place last year after only going 2-2 at Cadet 100, he won Northern Plains and went 4-1 at Duals, with his only loss to a California wrestler who is not registered.

Kelly Dunnigan made the FloNats finals and was up 9-0 on last year’s 100lb champ Joey Fischer before losing. He went undefeated at JR Duals.

Blast from the Past: In both 2018 (Wil Guida) and 2016 (Jason Holmes), the wrestler who won the title was the 100lb Junior champ from the year before.

Nomad's Picks

1) West, MN  2) Dunnigan, NJ  3) Griffin, OK  4) Randell, IL

113 Pounds

#4 Drake Ayala, IA - Akron 4th

#7 (at 120) Jeremiah Reno, MO - 2x Akron finalist

#9 Nico Provo, CT - FloNats 3rd

#11 Sheldon Seymour, PA - Returning 3rd

#18 Gary Steen, PA - FloNats 8th

#19 (at 120) Jett Strickenberger, CO - 2017 champ

#20 Alex Almeyda, NJ - 100 Cadet 2nd

Blaine Brenner, WI - Akron 7th

Ronan Schuelke, IL - 100 Junior 2nd

Bryce Cockrell, OK - 106 Junior 6th

Jacob Delsanter, OH

Erik Roggie, VA 

Commentary: Now we’re starting to get into it, some future 125s who are itching to win a major. Rising junior (and still uncommitted) Ayala looks like the favorite to win his second title, having won as a 94lb Cadet two years ago. Of his two losses in Akron, Jordan Williams is wrestling 16U and Joey Cruz isn’t going at all, and he has otherwise teched everyone else he’s faced this freestyle season.

It should be noted though that Ayala did lose 10-0 to Sheldon Seymour in the third place match a year ago. A rising senior at Troy, the Lehigh commit went undefeated en route to his first Pennsylvania state title. He is coming down from 121, where he placed fourth at FloNats.

Nico Provo, the National Prep All-American, showed out at FloNats and went on to win Pan Ams. Richard Delsanter is a fun wildcard to watch from Ohio. He has wins over both Kyle Rowan and Dustin Norris.

It’s rare for a Missourian to leave the state, but Jeremiah Reno plans to do just that with his commitment to Nebraska. Looking at Willie’s 125lb prospect rankings, Reno is the second highest entry behind Ayala. He was a two-time Akron finalist down several weights, but did not even make it to the bloodround last July.

Gary Steen and Erik Roggie present crazy length issues for everyone in the field. Almeyda, who went undefeated at Duals, was a finalist down at 100 last year as a Cadet, and Schuelke is one of only three returning runners-up. Bryce Cockrell is looking to sneak his way back onto the podium past all these ranked guys.

Blast from the Past: This weight has been excellent for the "non-traditional" states since 2013, with champs coming from Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Tennessee. That bodes well for guys like Provo.

Nomad's Picks

1) Ayala, IA  2) Seymour, PA  3) Reno, MO  4) Provo, CT

120 Pounds

#4 Jakason Burks, NE - 113 Cadet champ

#10 Tristian Lujan, CA - Super 32 4th

#12 (at 126) Tim Levine, CA

#15 Cooper Flynn, TN - 113 Cadet 3rd

#16 Dustin Norris, OH - 113 Junior 4th

#18 Colton Drousias, IN - 113 Cadet 4th

#19 (at 126) Cameron Lacure, OH

Garett Lautzenheiser, OH - Returning 8th

Zach Espalin, AZ - 106 Junior 4th

Kase Mauger, ID

Chris Kim, PA

Jacob Moon, OH

Commentary: Doubling up is extremely difficult, but that’s exactly what Jakason Burks is going to Fargo to do. Considering he was a Cadet world teamer in Greco and a Fargo champ in freestyle, it’s not out of the question. He was third in Akron this year, and the guys above him either aren’t going or will be up at 126. Heading to Oklahoma State next fall, he's going to be the top 133lb prospect in the FargoDome.

Fresno State commit Tristan Lujan isn't the same guy in freestyle, going 2-2 in Fargo last year and 3-1 at Junior Duals this year. Cooper Flynn improved year-over-year as a Cadet, going from fifth at 94lbs to third at 113lbs. Now a Junior, I think the only thing that stops him from being in the finals is if Burks is on the same side, based on their semi last July on the main stage.

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Dustin Norris also improved, from seventh as a Cadet 94 to fourth as a Junior 113, and could be a huge part of Ohio's push for the team title. Like 145, they're stacked at this weight, with Cameron Johnson, and Jacob Moon.

Indiana is very strong around these weights, and returning fourth placer Colton Drousias is among the leaders. The folks around Chris Kim are waiting for a breakout performance from him. Espalin placed in JRs last year and Mauger is the exact kind of guy fans and media forget about from Idaho and then are reminded come time for Fargo.

Blast from the Past: We just ran Daton Fix over Jack Mueller the other day, so let's talk about Nathan Tomasello instead. The four-time All-American and 2015 NCAA champ won the title in 2012, then came back in 2013 and beat Kaid Brock in the final. WATCH MATCH HERE

Nomad's Picks

1) Burks, NE  2) Flynn, TN  3) Norris, OH  4) Drousias, IN

126 Pounds

#7 Dylan Shawver, OH - Rutgers commit

#10 Carter Young, OK - 2017 Fargo champ

#13 Brayden Littell, IN - 2x state champ

#20 Cameron Johnson, IL

#18 Ethen Miller, MO

#7 at 138 Wyatt Henson, MO

Brock McMillen, PA

Nick Masters, GA

Kyle Burwick, ND

Commentary: Carter Young has been a fascinating prospect to follow. He came in with a lot of hype as a first year Cadet before his freshman year, but didn't hit his stride until dropping down a weight and making the 94lb finals in Fargo. But last summer he didn't quite break through like we thought, adjusting to a growing body and different expectations. He didn't place in Akron or win a state title, but again dropped weight and looked awesome at Junior Duals.

Indiana is sneaky good as a freestyle state, as evidenced by them having the sixth most world teamers this year. Their JR team had a Top-10 finish last year, though none of those placers return, but four of their Cadet AAs have moved up. Brayden Littell is included in that and represents a good opportunity for the state to flex their depth.

Apparently Wyatt Henson isn't going up in weight. He seemed to be cutting a lot when he went 57kg for UWW Juniors, and then went 60kg for Akron. But he's back down and gives Missouri two potential AAs, along with Ehten Miller.

Nick Masters has made a finals before and Kyle Burwick looks to improve upon last year's 4th place finish after going undefeated at JR Duals. Brock McMillen has always been great in folkstyle and looks to add some freestyle chops to his resume.

Blast from the Past: Back in 2012, eventual NCAA champ Cory Clark beat three-time AA and future finalist Joey McKenna. WATCH MATCH HERE

Nomad's Picks

1) Henson, MO  2) Young, OK  3) Masters, GA  4) Burwick, ND

132 Pounds

#3 Dom Serrano, CO - Cadet 126 champ

#8 at 138 Teague Travis, MO

#8 Cael Happel, IA - FS state champ

#9 Caleb Rathjen, IA - Akron 4th

#10 Mick Burnett, OH - 126 Cadet 2nd

#12 Kellyn March, SD

#13 Henry Porter, CA

#15 Ryan Franco, CA - 2x Fargo finalist

#17 Trey Crawford, MO

Cole Mattin, OH

Angelo Rini, OH

Ryan Ripplinger, ND

Gabe Hixenbaugh, AL

Commentary: Only one of these guys has beaten someone ranked #1 in the country, and that's Caleb Rathjen of Iowa, who ended up fourth in Akron. However, he took a loss at Northern Plains and was beaten 10-5 by Cael Happel at the state freestyle tournament. Happel went 4-2 as a Junior last year and Rathjen made the Cadet finals at 120lbs.

Both Cadet finalists from 126 are here in Dom Serrano, who is going to Nebraska, and Mick Burnett, who is still uncommitted. Burnett has the opportunity to really show the college coaches he is on an upward trajectory entering his senior year, and is the top 141-pound prospect at the weight. Serrano projects as a 133 for the Huskers and teched Rathjen for third in Akron.

Teague Travis continues to bounce around in weight and find one that suits him. He's hard to pin down as a prospect, but he's in the Jaydin Eierman mold and should be a nightmare middleweight in both folk and free as he gets older. Trey Crawford also gives Missouri some depth here.

Two California boys should be in the mix to get on the podium. Ryan Franco has twice made the finals here, but had a disappointing start to his freestyle season. He got fourth in FloNats as the top seed and didn't place in Akron. Franco lost to Henry Porter in the freestyle state finals, but rebounded by going 7-0 at JR Duals.

Ripplinger and Hixenbaugh have previously placed.

Blast from the Past: Taylor LaMont and Mitch McKee had an excellent rivalry this year, meeting in the finals of both styles, plus at JR Duals in both styles. The wrestler who won the Duals match lost in that style in the Fargo finals. WATCH MATCH HERE

Nomad's Picks

1) Serrano, CO  2) Burnett, OH  3) Rathjen, IA  4) Travis, MO

138 Pounds

#1 Josh Saunders, MO - CD/JR World teamer

#2 Sammy Hillegas, PA - VT commit

#3 (grad) Ridge Lovett, ID - 2x Fargo finalist

#6 Josh Edmond, MI - Cadet 132 champ

#11 (at 145) Bretli Reyna, FL

#18 Noah Villareal, IL

#19 Lachlan McNeil, PA

Marcos Polanco, CA

Cade Balestrini, PA

Commentary: We have our first obvious weight where the champ should get a Golden Ticket, that is unless future Huser Ridge Lovett wins. Which he very well could, given that he was second last year and in 2016 as well.

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Saunders is the obvious choice to win, having wrestled at both the Cadet and Junior world championships already, along with his 2017 stop sign. Another title would virtually assure the Cornell commit of making a second appearance at WNO. Coming in second in the weight (and third in the 149lb prospect rankings) is Sammy Hillegas.

Saunders obviously has the experience, and has one of the most advanced gut wrenches of anyone his age, but Hillegas has committed himself to freestyle this summer. I don't think he has the experience yet to knock off someone like Saunders, but he'll likely have a performance like Pat Glory did a few years ago.

Although Hillegas has beaten Edmond twice in ridiculous Super 32 matches, Edmond is a different animal in freestyle. He blew the doors off everyone last year to win a Fargo title, and looked great in spurts in Akron. However, the weight appeared to be a bit much, so the extra six pounds should give him a little more pop in his step.

Blast from the Past: Not to pick on McKenna some more, but good lord was young Aaron Pico a force. WATCH MATCH HERE

Nomad's Picks

1) Saunders, MO  2) Lovett, ID  3) Edmond, MI  4) Hillegas, PA

145 Pounds

#2 Victor Voinovich, OH - 5th JR Open

#4 Brayden Roberts, WV

#5 Ed Scott, PA

#7 Derek Fields, OH - Akron finalist

#9 Joey Zargo, NJ - FloNats champ

#13 Bryce Hepner, OH

#13 (at 138) Caleb Henson, GA

#15 Chase Warden, TX - Returning AA

#16 Jagger Condomitti, PA - NHSCA Champ

#17 Jonathan Miers, PA

#17 (at 138) Maxx Mayfield, NE

#19 Luke Geog, OH - Returning finalist

#20 Luke Odom, IL

Commentary: A baker's dozen of ranked wrestlers, ho boy. Voinovich came into high school looking like a future college star, and he enters the phase of his career where he can be recruited as our #2 prospect at 157. He struggled a bit last freestyle season, especially against tall opponents like Luke Surber and Cade Devos. But he's back on track and may be in position to wrestle at Who's #1.

I think Zargo had a hiccup in Akron, but the guy we saw win FloNats and the Northeast Regional can absolutely be anyone in this bracket. Brayden Roberts presents issues with his positioning and Greco chops. Both Scott and Fields should help NC State when we run the unofficial "which college won Fargo" article in about two weeks.

Like Zargo, I'm riding the hot hand with Fields, who made the 65kg finals in Akron. Chase Warden is no longer under the radar, but he might not be able to put together a tournament to win it all, which is a bit of a harsh criticism since only one of these guys will win the eight or so necessary matches to get the stop sign.

Nomad's Picks

1) Voinovich, OH  2) Zargo, NJ  3) Fields, OH  4) Henson, GA

152 Pounds

#1 Keegan O’Toole, WI - returning champ

#5 Matt Lee, IN

#6 Fidel Mayora, IL - 2017 CD champ

#7 (grad) Jace Luchua, CA - returning 5th

#11 Chase Saldate, CA

#20 Luka Wick, CA

Bryce Hepner, OH

Commentary: Another stop sign puts O’Toole in position to wrestle at Who’s #1 once again. The future Missouri Tiger was 7th in Vegas at 65kg, is moving up to 152 for Fargo, and should be a 160 during the folkstyle season. Unlikely last year when he was the potential guy, now he’s in the pound-for-pound and represents Wisconsin’s best shot at a title. He's one of only two guys (Luke Luffman being the other) that is back for another Junior gold.

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Matt Lee is looking to rebound from his 3-2 performance last year and join his brothers as Fargo champs. Hopefully Michigan commit Fidel Mayora is fully healthy and back to the form he showed as a Cadet champ in 2017.

Luchau's head pinch is vicious and keeps him in every match. He's got one more opportunity to get a stop sign, but his performance at JR Duals was underwhelming. Two other Cali boys in Luka Wick and Chase Saldate 

Nomad's Picks

1) O'Toole, WI  2) Lee, IN  3) Luchau, CA  4) Saldate, CA

160 Pounds

#2 Paddy Gallagher, OH

#5 Cael Valencia, CA - FloNats finalist

#3 (grad) Matt Olguin, CA

#12 (grad) Cade Devos, IA - Northern Plains champ

#18 (at 152) John Martin Best, WV - Pan Am champ

Niko Katsuyoshi, PA - NE Regional champ

Elise Brown Ton, TX - Akron 4th

Padraic Gallagher is in the group of rising juniors who are going to have a ton of expectations on them. He is the highest rated from the Class of 2021 in the Junior division at any weight, and has the potential to wrestle at Who’s #1 with a title. Ohio has won three of the past six gold medals at this weight.

Northern Plains champ Cade DeVos might come in as the favorite in his final go round in Fargo. Iowa was carried by their graduates last year, and South Dakota State’s next star is going to place high. He teched Jace Luchau at JR Duals, teched Cael Valencia in Akron last year, and beat Gallagher 10-3 when they wrestled in Fargo two years ago.

FloNationals and Western Regional finalist Cael Valencia is in a loaded group of Californians at 160 that includes plus fellow Fresno State commit Matt Olguin, who finished his career ranked #3 at 160.

Blast from the Past: Recent champs at this weight include Cadet world bronze medalist and Junior world teamer David Carr, two-time Oklahoma State All-American Joe Smith, and Isaiah Martienz, who has made Final X two straight years after finishing out his Illinois career with two titles and four finals appearances. Watch his 2012 final HERE.

Nomad's Picks

1) Gallagher, OH  2) Devos, IA  3) Valencia, CA  4) Brown Ton, TX

170 Pounds

#1 Patrick Kennedy, MN

#3 Gerrit Nijenhuius, PA

#6 Greyden Penner, MO

#7 Connor O'Neill, NJ

#7 (grad) Trey Munoz, CA

#8 (grad) Mason Reiniche, TN

#9 (at 152, grad) Lance Runyon, IA

#10 Nevan Snodgrass, OH

#11 (at 182) Sage Serbenta, MI

#13 Gavin Kane, GA

#13 (grad) Alex Cramer, IL

#14 Max Wilner, CA

#18 Adrien Cramer, IL

#19 David Ferrante, IL

Quayin Short, MN

Hudson Hightower, OH

Cole Hivnor, OH

Brady Spaeth, WI

Sam Skillings, WI

Commentary: Patrick Kennedy was third in an absolutely loaded Cadet 170 bracket two years ago, falling to AJ Ferrari in the quarters. Now, he has a chance to earn himself a WNO bid in a weight that features at least three ranked graduates and potentially double digit ranked guys overall.

After doing both styles in Vegas, Gerrit Nijenhuis is just sticking with freestyle in Fargo. Greyden Penner is trying to double up, he was third in Akron after beating Rutgers commit Connor O'Neill for bronze.

Gavin Kane went undefeated at Junior Duals. Munoz, Reiniche, and Cramer all represent grads who have placed here before.

Nomad's Picks

1) Kennedy, MN  2) Munoz, CA  3) Nijenhuis, PA  4) Reiniche, TN

182 Pounds

#1 (grad) Parker Keckeisen - JR WTT finalist

#3 (grad) Abe Assad, IL - Cadet World bronze

#3 (grad at 195) Devin Winston, MO - Fargo champ

#4 (grad) Chris Foca, NJ

#1 Dustin Plott, OK - JR Open 3rd

#2 Rocky Elam, MO - Fargo champ

#3 Luke Stout, PA - Fargo champ

#5 John Poznanski, NJ

#6 Colton Hawks, MO - NHSCA champ

Commentary: This is it, the big one. Unless someone pins their way through a weight, the winner of 182 should absolutely win OW. It features both the #1 to end the 2019 school year in UNI commit Parker Keckeisen, as well as the new #1 once the 2020 rankings were released in future Oklahoma State Cowboy Dustin Plott.

Strengthening the field is a Cadet world medalist in future Hawkeye Abe Assad. Then there are previous Fargo champs Devin Winston, Rocky Elam, and Luke Stout. Throw in Jersey hammers Chris Foca and John Poznanski, plus NHSCA champ Colton Hawks, and you have the best weight we'll see this year.

Plott has beaten both Keckeisen (third place match in Vegas) and Assad (Junior Duals) this year. Plus he has unfinished business after losing to Carson Kharchla in the finals a year ago. He and Keckeisen were the only two high schoolers to place at the JR Open, with the latter making it to the JR Trials finals.

Winston beat Assad in folkstyle at WNO, but Assad's third place finish in Vegas with the Juniors shows he can absolutely win this. Missouri might account for nearly half the podium with Elam and Hawks in there as well.

Foca will do folkstyle things like a cross wrist tilt on top. Elam is 3-0 vs Poznanski.

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Nomad's Picks

1) Plott, OK  2) Keckeisen, WI  3) Assad, IL  4) Winston, MO

195 Pounds

#1 Braxton Amos, WV: 4-time champ

#11 Brandon Hoselton, IL - Undefeated JR Duals

#14 Jadon Martin, CA

Isaac Trumble, NE - Northern Plains champ

Matt Kaylor, ND

Commentary: Braxton Amos has never lost in Fargo, a rare four-time Cadet champ. With two titles each in both styles, he’s a minus favorite to win stop signs five and six. Although we haven’t seen him do any freestyle this summer, he did make the Junior national team in Greco. It’s obviously not his fault, but with no one else in the Top-10 in his weight, we’re watching him for highlight reel moves, not signature wins.

Brandon Hoselton went undefeated at JR Duals and is entering a stage in his career where he will need to decide if he’s a 197 or a heavyweight in college. He was fourth last year at 220.

Isaac Trumble was an undefeated state champ in Nebraska this year and won Northern Plains. His only loss at Duals was to Sam Mitchell of Wisconsin, who he beat in the Plains finals. Mitchell is one of several grads Wisconsin hopes will do well. Trumble might be an under the radar steal for someone.

Blast from the Past: In between making the Cadet world team in 2011 and the Junior world team in 2013, Sammy Brooks won the title in 2012.

Nomad's Picks

1) Amos, WV  2) Hoselton, IL  3) Trumble, NE  4) Martin, CA

220 Pounds

#5 Cody Fisher, IA - Iowa State commit

#5 (at 195) Ethan Hatcher, OH - Akron 3rd

#7 Danny Striggow, MN - NHSCA champ

#10 Dorian Crosby, PA - Cadet 195 3rd

#18 Apollo Gothard, IL

Cole Fibranz, MN - Northern Plains champ

Commentary: As is normal at the upperweights, there will be a great deal of turnover in the placers year-over-year, and the All-Americans will come from guys who probably haven’t placed high before, or placed at all.

The highest ranked athlete is Iowa State commit Cody Fisher, who did not wrestle in Fargo last year. A three-time state finalist for Woodward-Granger, he placed seventh at Cadet 195 two years ago. He lost to graduate Cole Fibranz of Minnesota at Northern Plains, which Fibranz went on to win.

Another excellent Minnesota athlete is NHSCA champ Danny Striggow, who did not place last July. Striggow beat Guillermo Escobedo in the NHSCA finals, a California third placer who is up two weight classes from this past Fargo.

Cornell commit Ethan Hatcher appears to be staying up in weight after bumping up to 110kg in Akron. He techd Striggow for third in Akron and won the Central Regional, but lost to Dillyn Miller of Nebraska at Junior Duals.

Dorian Crosby is staying in PA for college, as the NE Regional champ verballed to Bucknell, and is up at Junior after placing third at 195 in Cadets last July.

Blast from the Past: It wasn't a final, but in my opinion it was the match that forced them to change from vertical pairing to the current format of line bracketing. Kyle Snyder and J'den Cox met in the first round of Greco and then the fourth round of freestyle, meaning the true final was many rounds too early.

Nomad's Picks

1) Hatcher, OH  2) Striggow, MN  3) Fisher, IA  4) Fibranz, MN

285 Pounds

#1 Nash Hutmacher, SD

#4 (grad) Luke Luffman, IL - JR 1st 220

#5 Colby Whitehill, PA - NE regional champ

#6 Garrett Kappes, MD

#7 (grad) Spencer Trenary, IA - JR 7th 285

#7 Braxton Mikesell, WA

#11 (grad) Josh Heindselman, OK - JR 5th 220

#15 Alex Coleman, OH - CD 285 4th

Caspian Grabowski, CA - NW Regional champ

Thor Zogg, AL - SE Regional champ

Donovan King, MI - Central Regional champ

Aydin Guttridge, IL - Northern Plains champ

Austin Roman, NM - Southern Plains champ

Commentary: Out goes three-time finalist and two-time champ Anthony Cassioppi, in comes Luke Luffman. Such is the Fargo machine that Illinois has created. The Illinois commit finished his career ranked #4 and was last year’s champ at 220.

But right above him was Nash Hutmacher, who has since ascended to the top of the rankings and committed to Nebraska for football. A finalist last year and Cadet champ in 2017, "The Polar Bear" went undefeated at Junior Duals with five shutout techs, and beat both Guttridge and Trenary here last year. This could be the last time we see him on a wrestling mat.

Spencer Trenary, a South Dakota State commit, and Aydin Guttridge, a Wisconsin commit who won the Northern Plains, are the only other returning placers. Iowa was carried by their graduates last year, and Trenary could help with that this year. Trenary beat Coleman and Guttridge at Duals.

Future sooner Josh Heindselman went up in weight at the Open and placed eighth, getting seven matches against college guys. He placed here last year and is battle tested enough to make a deep run.

Leading the way of guys still in high school is PA state champ Colby Whitehill. Last year's heavyweight runner-up in Cadets, the Clarion commit is right up there with the guys who are just a few weeks out from starting college classes.

Also going is Greco world teamer Braxton Mikesell and former 170 Garrett Kappes. Mikesell was third at 220 last year in Cadets and Kappes was seventh in the same weight in Juniors.

Blast from the Past: In 2013, Adam Coon beat Nathan Butler in the finals. Both would go on to win Junior world bronzes. WATCH MATCH HERE

Nomad's Picks

1) Hutmacher, SD  2) Luffman, IL  3) Whitehill, PA  4) Mikesell, WA